Thread holding mechanisms



Feb. 8, 1966 c. L. 1.. BULCOCK THREAD HOLDING MECHANISMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 11, 1964 NEE: W i. 4

I w W INVENTOR COIIHLLBUHCOck ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1966 c. 1.. L. BULCOCK THREAD HOLDING MECHANISMS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 11, 1964 I INVENTOR L0 ImBYL L 'Jfn, I (QQQK flaw-WSW ATTORNEYs United States Patent 3,233,636 THREAD HOLDING MECHANISMS Colin L. L. Bulcock, Clitheroe, England, assignor to Lupton Bros. Limited, a company of Great Britain, Northern Ireland, and The Isle of Man Filed Feb. 11, 1964, Ser. No. 344,014 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 12, 1963, 5,676/ 63 Claims. (Cl. 139256) The invention concerns a thread holding mechanism and more particularly concerns such a mechanism for use on drop box or circular box looms.

In the weaving of multi-coloured fabrics where it is necessary to produce stripes or squares in the cloth by using shuttles carrying different coloured yarns, it has hitherto been impossible to cut the selvedge loops on the loom, for the simple reason that the thread end extending from the shuttle would not be secured if such loops were out unless it was re-held.

The object of the present invention is to provide a thread holding mechanism capable of practical application to drop box or circular box looms.

According to the present invention a thread holding mechanism for a drop box or circular box loom comprises a nozzle member, an openable closure to said nozzle member adapted to receive and retain a thread applied thereto, means adapted to control the position of the closure in synchronism with the motion of a loom to which the device is applied, and suction means for creating a reduced fluid pressure in the interior of the said nozzle.

The invention will now be described further by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate several embodiments thereof.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred form of thread holding mechanism as applied to a loom temple;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an alternative;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an alternative form of nozzle to that shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a detail view of part of the mechanism of FIG. 1 as seen in the direction of the arrow X on FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1 thereof, a thread holding mechanism comprises a nozzle 11 having a movable flap 12 located in the front face thereof, such flap being pivo tally supported for motion about the axis of the hinge 13, a linkage 14 adapted to effect opening and closing of the flap 12 in synchronism with the normal functioning of the loom and at requisite stages therein and a feed line 15 leading from a source of suction 31a whereby a low pressure or suction might be applied to the nozzle 11.

The flap 12 is so positioned that the lower edge thereof lies, when the flap is in the closed condition, closely adjacent to and in contact with an inwardly formed lip 16 located along the upper edge of a plate 17 which extends angularly upwardly and inwardly from the base of the nozzle and serves to close the lower part of the front face of the nozzle. A hole 16a is provided in the side wall of the nozzle which is nearest to the loom temple and this serves to allow a yarn length A from the selvage of the fabric (not shown) to be drawn by the suction, into the nozzle to form a loop B, one end only of which is held between the fiap 12 and the lip 16. The yarn C which extends from the flap 12 and lip 16 is in the form of a tail extending from the shuttle (not shown) to the said flap; the yarn A is in fact cut by the selvage cutter. The structure just described is best shown in FIG. 4 of the drawing.

The opening and closing of the flap 12 is controlled through the linkage 14 by means of a Bowden cable 14a 3,233,636 Patented Feb. 8, I966 such linkage serving to transmit a motion of the Bowden cable 14a to the flap 12.

The end of the Bowden cable is secured to a pivotally mounted arm 140, the said arm having a pawl 14c pivotally secured thereto in engagement with the periphery of a ratchet wheel 14d rotatably mounted on a ratchet wheel shaft 14d for motion about the pivotal axis of the arm 140. A spring loaded intermediate arm Me is supported for pivotal motion about a fixed axis and extends between a pin 14 defining such axis and one end of an actuating linkage 14g, being pivotally coupled with such linkage 14g. The intermediate arm He presents a tooth Me for engagement with the teeth 14d" of the ratchet wheel 14d and upon rotation of such wheel the arm 14s is caused to pivot about the pin 14 thus to displace the actuating linkage 14 i, and open the flap.

The ratchet wheel 14a is freely rotatable about its axis, the pawl 14c being spring loaded into engagement with the periphery of the ratchet wheel 14d, and the intermediate arm is spring loaded thus to maintain engagement between the tooth 142 and the wheel.

The outer end of the actuating linkage 14g carries a pin 14h which passes through a slot 11a in the side wall of the nozzle and engages the lower edge of the flap.

The mechanical operation of the device is as follows: Movement of the Bowden cable, which is adapted to open the flap 12 is effected in synchronism with certain loom operations, and in particular in consequence of a box change, such movement of the Bowden cable causes the arm to move and thus the ratchet wheel will be rotated by an amount determined by the extent of displacement of the Bowden cable. Rotation of the wheel 14d will result in the intermediate arm 14c being pivoted as the bevel of the tooth 14c is followed by the tooth 14d on the wheel. By virtue of the loading applied to the intermediate arm by the spring, immediately the tooth 142' reaches the peak of a ratchet tooth 14d, engagement of the ratchet tooth takes place and the arm returns to its original position. Thus the flap will be quickly closed enabling the mechanism to operate at the predetermined correct time. When the Bowden cable is returned to its initial position the pawl 14c will ride over the teeth of the ratchet wheel so as to engage a tooth in angularly spaced disposition relative to that initially engaged and in readiness for the next displacement,

The operation of the device in fulfilling its functions of holding one or more weft threads is quite simple and is as follows:

Assume initially that the mechanism is applied to a two shuttle loom and that one thread indicated in FIG. 4, a first thread, is already held in the device and that a second thread is weaving normally. The inner end of the first thread will have been cut by the selvedge cutter and thus be able to be drawn into the nozzle by the reduced air pressure within the suction box. The cut end A of yarn can be drawn into the nozzle by virtue of the fact that it is located in the hole 16a. On the change of shuttle the second thread, due to the action of the mechanism, is caught between the flap 12 and the lip 16. The first thread again starts to weave and after a number of picks the selvedge cutter severs the second thread between the selvedge and the device. The second thread is still held between the flap 12 and the lip 16 but the loose end thereof is sucked into the device through the hole 16a. The first thread is also severed and since only a short length is trapped at the suction device such length is free to be withdrawn and is sucked into the reservoir.

In an alternative embodiment see now FIG. 2 a conventional temple 26, shown dotted, has a thread holding mechanism applied thereto. (The mechanism may be either built into the temple, attached to the temple or it may be a separate unit). The mechanism consists of a small rectangular nozzle 21 approximately 1" square,

which is blanked off at its lower end by a plate 22. At its upper end is a fiap 23 which is hinged to the body of the nozzle at 24. This flap 23 is made to open by the actuating linkage 25 which is pivoted On to a pin 26 attached to the flap 23, the said linkage 25 being positionally controlled via linkage 27 fulcrumed at 28. The pin 26 is located and moves in a slot (not shown) in the side of the nozzle, the said pin extending between the flap 23 and the linkage 25. (Conveniently the fulcrum 28 can be the conventional pivot for the return spring on a known form of temple cutter.) The linkage 27 is actuated by the bush 29 which is, in turn, controlled by a Bowden cable 34), the said cable being coupled at its extreme end, (not shown) to the box change mechanism of the loom by a suitable cam (not shown). The nozzle is attached to a pipe 31 which is supported and fastened to the temple by the mountings 32. The pipe 31 is coupled to a suitable suction device such as the suction blower 31a. This may also be in the form of a piston attached to the loom or it may be in the form of a rotary vacuum device as shown at 31a. Between the pipe 31 and the vacuum device a suitable reservoir is placed for the retention of the cut threads.

In operation the cam, at an appropriate time in the cycle of operation of the loom and after box change has occurred, tensions the Bowden cable thus the linkage 27 is moved in a clockwise direction, transmitting this motion via the linkage 25 and pin 26 to the flap 23 which is pivoted at 24. The motion opens the flap when the loom is at front center position, such opening occurring only when a colour change is taking place, and the thread sucked in is trapped between plate 22 and flap 23 upon the closing of the latter. Close contact between parts 22 and 23 is maintained by a spring 32. At the side of the nozzle is a hole 33 which facilitates the entry of the thread from the side of the cloth into the nozzle.

In a further embodiment, see now FIG. 3, the nozzle of the arrangement of FIG. 2 is replaced by one of an alternative form. The linkage 25 is replaced by a twisted section 34 which forms at its lower end a trap 35 in the pipe 36 and serves the same basic principle of trapping the threads and removing them according to programming, received through the same system referred to above.

In systems of nozzles of both FIGS. 2 and 3 any material may be used for construction. The flap 23 may have a rubber or synthetic sleeve on the lower edge to facilitate holding of the thread. Similarly the trap 35 may be likewise treated.

The invention is not restricted to the particular features of the embodiment hereinbefore described since alternatives will readily present themselves to one skilled in the art.

Thus, for example, instead of providing a single hinged flap two such flaps could be provided so mounted as to be movable thus to grip a thread therebetween at an appropriate time in the cycle of operation of the loom to which the device is attached.

I claim:

1. A thread holding mechanism for a loom comprising, a nozzle member, an openable closure for said member adapted to receive and retain a thread applied thereto, the nozzle member having a side wall provided with an opening leading from the interior of said nozzle member, a loom to which the mechanism is applied, said loom hav ing conventional loom motion, means adapted to control the position of the closure in synchronism with the mo tion of the loom, and a suction conduit connected to the nozzle for creating a reduced fluid pressure in the interior of the nozzle.

2. A thread holding mechanism as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for controlling the position of the closure comprises a linkage arrangement which inciudes a pawl and ratchet movement.

3. A thread holding mechanism as claimed in claim 2 wherein the said movement comprises a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and a pawl in engagement with said wheel, the said pawl being supported upon a pivotally mounted arm positionally controllable thus to control the angular position of the ratchet wheel, and the said ratchet wheel is adapted to etfect a displacement of an actuating linkage coupled to the closure thus to move said closure between open and closed positions.

4. A thread holding mechanism as claimed in claim 3 which includes an intermediate arm, a tooth integrally formed with said intermediate arm and in engagement with the periphery of the ratchet wheel, the said intermediate arm being pivot-ally supported for motion about a fixed axis and adapted, upon such pivotal motion to effeet a displacement of the actuating linkage, the said intermediate arm being spring loaded to maintain engagement between the tooth thereon and the periphery of the ratchet wheel and being adapted to be moved in a pivotal manner upon rotation of the ratchet wheel.

5. A thread holding mechanism as claimed in claim 4 which includes a pin secured to the closure and to the actuating linkage, the said pin engaging a through slot in the wall of the nozzle member.

6. A thread holding mechanism as claimed in claim 5 wherein said linkage is cable actuated.

7. In a thread holding mechanism for attachment to a loam a linkage comprising a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and a pawl in engagement with said wheel, a positionally controllable, pivotally mounted arm upon which said pawl is mounted, a pivotal intermediate arm, a tooth integral with said intermediate arm and in spring loaded engagement with the periphery of the said wheel, and an actuating linkage coupled to said intermediate arm, a movable closure to which linkage is connected, the said pawlcarrying arm being displaceable in synchronism with the normal motions of a loom, and the intermediate arm being movable, upon rotation of the ratchet wheel, thus to move the actuating linkage.

8. A thread holding mechanism for attachment to a loom having a plurality of shuttles and shuttle-changing mechanisms comprising a nozzie member, a pivotal closure mounted on said nozzle member, a fixed edge against which the remote edge of the said closure lies in the closed condition thereof, said fixed edge being so arranged as to leave an orifice between the closure and the nozzle member when the closure is in the closed position, means through which a suction is developed for creating a reduced fiuid pressure in the interior of said nozzle, and means adapted to control the position of the closure in synchronism with the motion of the loom to which the mechanism is applied, the said means including a linkage comprising a ratchet wheel mounted for rotation about a fixed axis and a pawl in engagement with said wheel, a positionally controllable pivotally mounted arm upon which said pawl is mounted, a pivotal intermediate arm, a tooth integral with such intermediate arm and in spring loaded engagement with the periphery of the said wheel, and an actuating linkage coupled to said intermediate arm and to the movable closure, the intermediate arm being movable, upon rotation of the ratchet wheel, thus to move the actuating linkage.

9. A thread holding mechanism for a loom having a plurality of shuttles and shuttle-changing mechanisms comprising a nozzle member, an openable closure to said nozzle member adapted to receive and retain a thread applied thereto, means adapted to control the position of the closure in synchronism with the motion of the loom to which the device is applied, and suction means adapted to create a reduced pressure in the interior of the nozzle, the means for controlling the position of the closure comprising a first linkage pivotally mounted for motion about a fixed axis and adapted to be positionally controlled from a control cable, and a second linkage extending between said first linkage and the movable closure.

10. A thread holding mechanism for a loom having a loom motion having a plurality of shuttles and shuttlechanging mechanisms comprising a nozzle member hav ing a Wall, an opening in the wall of such member, a displaceable closure engageable with the said opening and adapted to receive and retain a thread applied thereto, means adapted to control the position of the said closure in synchronism with the motion of the loom to which the mechanism is applied, and suction means arranged to create a reduced fluid pressure at the interior of the nozzle, the said closure being directed transversely of the said nozzle and being so positioned as to pass through the opening thus to assume an operative position when required.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,743,877 5/1956 Furst 139256.1

3,059,867 10/1962 Furst 242--35.6

3,108,619 10/1963 Kohler 139257 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,142,674 1/1963 Germany.

10 ROBERT R. MACKEY, Acting Primary Examiner.

DONALD N. PARKER, Examiner.

H. S. JAUDON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A THREAD HOLDING MECHANISM FOR A LOOM COMPRISING, A NOZZLE MEMBER, AN OPERABLE CLOSURE FOR SAID MEMBER ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AND RETAIN A THREAD APPLIED THERETO, THE NOZZLE MEMBER HAVING A SIDE WALL PROVIDED WITH AN OPENING LEADING FROM THE INTERIOR OF SAID NOZZLE MEMBER, A LOOM TO WHICH THE MECHANISM IS APPLIED, SAID LOOM HAVING CONVENTIONAL LOOM MOTION, MEANS ADAPTED TO CONTROL THE POSITION OF THE CLOSURE IN SYNCHRONISM WITH THE MOTION OF THE LOOM, AND A SUCTION CONDUIT CONNECTED TO THE NOZZLE FOR CREATING A REDUCED FLUID PRESSURE IN THE INTERIOR OF THE NOZZLE. 